Pioneer in Online Social Community-Building and Free-to-Play Sandbox Gaming Celebrates Two Decades of Creation and Innovation with over 316M Registered Avatars and 500M Rooms

Helsinki, Finland — October 15, 2020 — Social entertainment company Sulake is celebrating a huge milestone this year – Habbo is 20 years old! The game first appeared in late summer 2000, and now hundreds of millions of players later, finds itself in the year 2020 still with a solid fan base that has grown up with the IP.

One of the original free-to-play virtual communities, Habbo’s focus on providing a safe and fun online space for self-expression held wide appeal for tweens and teens in the 2000’s and 2010’s. However, now the demographic tracks a bit older (young adults over 19 years make up 71% of the current player base) as the player base has grown up with Habbo and many have returned to the game during various COVID-19 lockdowns.

Throughout the course of its long and illustrious history, Habbo has celebrated widespread international success with 9 language versions and over 316M registered avatars in over 115 countries, creating over 500M rooms. Multiple awards have been showered on the service, including Fast 500 EMEA (2005), Best Community Site, Site of the Year (MetrixLab, multiple awards from 2006-2015), Global Safest Social Network (the European Commission, 2011) and the Nokia Foundation Award (2008), but the Habbo innovation doesn’t stop there. It was also one of the first online virtual communities to secure numerous advertising partnerships with over 300 brands from a wide variety of sectors and major celebrity features. These include musical artists Pink, Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga and Ozzy Osbourne and blockbuster films such as the Harry Potter series, the Twilight series, Fantastic Four and many more.

“Habbo was a true pioneer in terms of from such a humble beginning in 2000 to what we’ve seen in its growth and change over the past two decades,” said Sulake CEO Valtteri Karu. “We’ve been excited to see so many players sticking with us and returning to the game during lockdown and participating in our 20th birthday events. We’re planning for this year to be followed by an even bigger year in 2021 – the next 12 months are full of exciting new developments for Habbo. That’s all I can say right now, so stay tuned!”

About Habbo & Sulake

Sulake is a social entertainment company focused on providing a safe and fun online service for self-expression through its games, Habbo and Hotel Hideaway. Sulake was founded in 2000 by a small team of passionate people and now after 20 years, Habbo is still one of the largest virtual communities in the world, reaching players all over the world each month. With paying customers in over 115 countries and over 850,000 active users a month, Habbo continues to be a hugely popular and globally recognised brand.

Sulake’s mission is to enable its users to meet new people, make friends and give them a place to create and share their user-generated content in fun virtual surroundings. Dutch media and technology company Azerion has been a majority stakeholder since 2018, with long term shareholder Elisa Oyj still retaining a minority stake in the business. Sulake is also a leader in ensuring online safety for children. www.sulake.com

Popular free-to-play video game and rock legends collaborate on exclusive music video, brand-new game mode

Wargaming today announced that the iconic band, Korn, and free-to-play video game titan, World of Tanks Blitz, launched a special Halloween collaboration, revealing the music video for ‘Finally Free’, a track featured on Korn’s latest studio album, The Nothing. The exclusive video sets the stage for World of Tanks Blitz’s brand-new Halloween mode: Burning Games.

Fans of the band and World of Tanks Blitz players won’t want to miss out on Convergence, a five-stage event which brings Korn to the widely popular game that boasts more than 137 million downloads globally. From October 16^th through October 24^th all players can complete in-game challenges to uncover pieces of band artwork and extra special items.

This event also features the brand-new Burning Games mode, where players will fight for dominance on the battlefield in order to secure in-game rewards. In a Halloween-themed twist, from the time the battle clock starts, every vehicle on the battlefield will start draining health like a vampire, and players will need to deal damage to their foes in order to get their health back. The Burning Games mode is available to all vehicles Tier V and above and runs from October 16^th till October 24^th.

“Wargaming is no stranger to musical collaborations, having teamed up with Iron Maiden, Swedish metallers Sabaton, and punk rock outfit, The Offspring, for previous projects,” said Andrey Ryabovol, Product Director of World of Tanks Blitz. “Korn is the perfect partner for our Halloween event, and we can’t wait for rock fans and World of Tanks Blitz players to experience this exciting collaboration.”

“I really like World of Tanks Blitz. It’s true to the era, there are a lot of great tanks in there, and you don’t just jump in and start shooting,” said Jonathan Davis, lead vocals, Korn. “I think there is a connection between rock and video games because video games are intense and rock ’n’ roll music is intense. It seems like they have always gone hand in hand.”

The music video for ‘Finally Free’ tells the story of Captain, a die-hard Korn fan (and a known character in the World of Tanks Blitz universe) who’s doing all he can to get to Korn’s live performance at the ‘Burning Games’. The problem is a crew of wasteland raiders who do all they can to keep him from his goal. Will he make it to the front row of the Korn show in time?

 Check out the ‘Finally Free’ music video to find out.

The Halloween extravaganza will also include The Way of the Raider, a 60-stage event. Tankers will be able to get Credits, Free XP, days of Premium Account, several camos, a сustom player profile, and two new post-apocalyptic vehicles: The Tier V Spike and the Tier VII Annihilator. Both tanks are featured in the new video from Korn. All tankers who complete all 60 stages will be able to get their hands on the unique animated “Radioactive Glow” camo. The Way of the Raider runs from October 16^th through October 31^st, and is available to all vehicles Tier V and above.

And finally, from October 24^th through October 31^st, Mad Games makes a welcome return. A true fan-favorite, the game mode gives tankers unique abilities ordinary tanks could only wish for.

Learn more about Korn’s latest release, The Nothing, here.

For more information, visit wotblitz.com.

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About World of Tanks Blitz

World of Tanks Blitz is a cross-platform, free-to-play, team-based MMO action game dedicated to fierce tank combat. Available on iOS, macOS, Android, Windows 10, Steam, and Nintendo Switch, the game lets players control over 370 legendary armoured vehicles and boasts more than 137 million downloads worldwide. 

World of Tanks Blitz is a fun, lighthearted approach to the genre that bends the rules of reality, putting an engaging twist on tank combat. Deep mechanics and realistic physical models across both authentic and alternative historical settings combine to create fluid gameplay and tactical diversity.

Official website: wotblitz.com

About Korn

Since forming, KORN has sold 40 million albums worldwide, collected two GRAMMYS, toured the world countless times, and set many records in the process that will likely never be surpassed. Vocalist Jonathan Davis, guitarists James “Munky” Shaffer and Brian “Head” Welch, bassist Reginald “Fieldy” Arvizu, and drummer Ray Luzier, have continued to push the limits of the rock, alternative and metal genres, while remaining a pillar of influence for legions of fans and generations of artists around the globe.  The level of KORN’s reach transcends accolades and platinum certifications.  They are “a genuine movement in a way bands cannot be now,” attests The Ringer.  They represent a new archetype and radical innovation, their ability to transcend genre makes barriers seem irrelevant.  www.kornofficial.com

Coming Soon to Xbox Game Pass for Console and PC: Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition, Cricket 19, Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition, and More

by Megan Spurr, Community Manager, Xbox Game Pass

We have new games, we have classics, we’ve even got games on your consoles, on your PCs and on your Android devices. It’s not literally raining games (because that would hurt), but what I’m saying is that there are a lot of games.

Coming Soon

Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition (PC) – October 15
Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition completes the celebration of one of the most beloved real-time strategy franchises in definitive form. Command mighty civilizations from across Europe and the Americas or jump to the battlefields of Asia in stunning 4K Ultra HD graphics and with a fully remastered soundtrack. Experience two new game modes: including all previously released expansions and 14 civilizations, plus two brand new civilizations – the Swedes and Inca. Return to adventure with this final chapter in the Age of Empires: Definitive Edition journey.

Heave Ho (PC) ID@Xbox – October 15
Grab one another’s hands, climb across dangling bodies, and swing your pals to safety in a wobbly, dangly mass of limbs. Heave Ho tasks up to four players with a simple goal: don’t fall to your death! Players will use their own two hands and the outstretched grip of their friends to grapple across each level on their way to victory. Customize your character with stylish accessories in a vain attempt to remember which of your hands is the only thing between you and the plummet of doom.

Katana Zero (Android, Console & PC) ID@Xbox – October 15
A stylish neo-noir, action-platformer featuring breakneck action and instant-death combat. Slash, dash, and manipulate time to unravel your past in a beautifully brutal acrobatic display. Each level is uniquely designed for countless methods of completion. Defeat foes creatively, using spontaneous approaches to eliminate your enemy as you see fit.

Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition (Console & PC) – October 15
The fate of two friends will collide in an epic journey that threatens the existence of the world in Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition! A power struggle begins with a civilization dependent on an ancient technology, the Blastia, and the Empire that controls it. Relive the most beloved “Tales of” title beautifully remastered in HD with new playable characters, new stories, and more special attacks!

The Swords of Ditto: Mormo’s Curse (PC) – October 15
A compact action RPG that creates a unique adventure for each new hero of legend in the relentless fight against the evil Mormo. Explore a delightful but dangerous overworld, brave menacing dungeons, and improve your hero in a charming village, during your quest to overcome the evil that plagues the island. Grab a co-op friend for an unforgettable adventure filled with delightful characters, extraordinary loot, and heroic battles!

ScourgeBringer (Console) ID@Xbox – October 21
From the developers of NeuroVoider, ScourgeBringer is a fast-paced free-moving roguelite platformer, much like a crossbreed between Dead Cells and Celeste. Set in a post-apocalyptic world where a mysterious entity wreaked havoc on all humanity, ScourgeBringer puts you in the shoes of the deadliest warrior of her clan: Kyhra. Help her explore the unknown and slash her way through ancient machines guarding the seal of her past, and maybe the redemption of humanity.

Cricket 19 (Console) – October 22
The official game of the 2019 Ashes Championship is the complete cricket simulation. Featuring a suite of exciting all-new features that add even greater depth and rich new content to Big Ant Studios’ acclaimed cricket engine. Tackle historical scenarios for classic matches through the ages, develop the career of a junior right through to national captaincy. Participate in the fully-licensed Ashes Cricket mode, or lead your nation to the greatest world championship in the classic 50-over one day mode.

Supraland (Console) ID@Xbox – October 22
Save the red-stick figure village in this hit first-person, open-world, action-puzzle platformer. Roam and explore a grand interconnected world, unlock new versatile abilities, and combine them to overcome imaginative puzzles or uncover shrouded secrets. Defeat charging hordes in fast, frenetic first-person combat as you battle your way for an audience with the Blue King. Supraland is the ultimate “sandbox” adventure game and offers players of all ages a unique take on puzzles, exploration, and adventure!

In Case You Missed It 

Grounded Game Preview Update
Grounded is back with another update! Check out a new lab that you can reach in the Hedge, also explore these not-so abandoned hallways that were once inaccessible with the help of the newly added ziplines throughout the Hedge. In the spirit of Halloween, some new items will be appearing in the backyard throughout the month of October. Some are for decoration, others are for harvesting if you like that sort of treat, while others still can be used for recreation with friends or by yourself. Also, localization updates! The game is getting localized text for French, Italian, German, and Spanish. More languages are on the way, so be on the lookout for them in the future.

DLC / Game Updates

Black Desert Succession Update (Console)
Succession skills are finally available on Black Desert! This free update will bring you back to your roots by giving you powerful new skills focused on the original weapons of your class. The first four classes that will be granting Succession skills are Warrior, Ranger, Sorceress, and Berserker!

Destiny 2: Festival of the Lost 2020 – Until November 3
Grab a mask and join the party by braving the Haunted Forest and collecting new rewards. A new Exotic Sparrow, ship, and Ghost are all wrapped up and ready for your collection. There are also new Triumphs to unlock, new masks to wear, and more chances to get a perfect roll with new perk possibilities on the Braytech Werewolf and Horror Story Auto Rifles.

Doom Eternal Halloween 2020 – Until October 29
Halloween 2020 is an in-game event running until October 29 and features cosmetics, icons and nameplates that players can earn by playing the campaign and Battlemode. Completing weekly challenges (which get refreshed every Thursday) is the fastest way for players to level up through these events.

Overcooked! 2: Moon Harvest Festival – Free Update Out Now
Get ready to prepare, cook and serve new recipes with the Overcooked! 2 Moon Harvest festival! Bringing a new lily pad mechanic it’s sure to give players something to shout about. The update is available free for all players with the base game Overcooked! 2.

State of Decay 2 Update 21 & Open Range Pack
The Open Range Pack introduces fresh Cowboy/Western themed weapons and clothing. This will include the first ever lever-action weapons – a necessary inclusion for a proper cowboy update. Difficulty sliders allow players to customize their difficulty along independent gameplay axes. Axes include combat, map, and simulation difficulties, ranging from Green (easy) to Nightmare. Want hard combat, but easy looting? We’ve now got you covered.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks

One new Perk to share this week, but it’s a big one!  Read below for more details, and don’t forget to claim it by going to your Perks gallery via your Xbox One console, Xbox App on Windows 10 PC, or the Xbox Game Pass mobile app on iOS and Android.

Forza Horizon 4 (Launches October 14)
Get three amazing cars to explore the beautiful world of Forza Horizon 4 with. The Road Trip Bundle includes the 2011 Koenigsegg Agera, 2010 Pagani Zonda R, and the 1938 Maserati 8CTF.

Xbox Game Pass Quests

New October Quests this week! There are dozens available, but here’s a few of our monthly Quests:

• Wasteland 3 – Earn 3 achievements – 75 points
• F1 2019 – Complete 15 laps – 75 points

Check back for daily, weekly, and monthly Quests on your console or see all your Quests in the new Xbox Game Pass mobile app! Redeem points for more Game Pass, Xbox gift cards and giveaway entries.

Leaving Soon

This is your reminder to dive into these games before they leave the Xbox Game Pass library on October 15! Remember you can buy these incredible games and use your Xbox Game Pass membership discount to save up to 20%!
 
Leaving October 15  

• Felix the Reaper (Console & PC)  
• Metro 2033 Redux (Console & PC)  
• Minit (Console & PC) 
• Saints Row IV Re-Elected (PC) 
• State of Mind (PC) 

We’ll be updating the leaving soon collection (you can find it on your mobile app or Windows 10 app if you haven’t installed those yet) soon with these games that will be leaving at the end of the month:

Leaving October 30 

• After Party (Console)
• LEGO Star Wars III (Console)
• Rise & Shine (Console)
• Tacoma (Console & PC)
• The Lord of the Rings: Adventure Card Game (Console & PC) 
• The Red Strings Club (PC)

As always, we’ll be back here with more games soon. You never know, we might have some more news and updates, so be sure to stay plugged into our social channels: Xbox Game Pass PC news on Twitter, and Ultimate and console news on Twitter and Instagram.  See you next time!

AMC’s The Walking Dead’s Michonne, Rick Grimes and Daryl Dixon Available Today in Brawlhalla^® as Epic Crossovers

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — October 15, 2020 — Today, Ubisoft announced that Michonne, Rick Grimes, and Daryl Dixon from AMC‘s The Walking Dead are now available in Brawlhalla as Epic Crossovers. The in-game event that kicks off today through to October 28 features Walker Attack, a new game mode where players and their friends have to fight off endless waves of walkers for as long as they can. It also features a new map depicting the survivors’ prison from seasons 3 and 4 of The Walking Dead, a new ‘Days Gone Bye’ podium, and a new ‘Walker’s Grasp’ KO effect.

Three new The Walking Dead Epic Crossovers

• Michonne – Epic Crossover for Koji – With her sword and bow, the expert swordswoman is ready to fight, and she’ll do whatever it takes to win.
• Rick Grimes – Epic Crossover for Barraza – Armed with his hatchet and revolvers, Rick Grimes is here to show everyone what needs to be done to survive.
• Daryl Dixon – Epic Crossover for Ember – He brought his motorcycle, his crossbow, his knives, and a few other weapons to help him come out on top.

Each Epic Crossover is available for 300 Mammoth Coins via the in-game store. All items, Epic Crossovers, game modes, and maps will still be purchasable and playable after the Event ends.

Developed by Blue Mammoth, Brawlhalla is an epic free-to-play platform fighting game that brings players to the fight for glory in the halls of Valhalla. Choosing from more than 50 unique characters, players can jump into single-player and co-op modes as well as online and local competitions. Brawlhalla also supports cross-platform play between the Xbox One family of devices including the Xbox One X, Nintendo Switch™ system, PlayStation 4^® system, PC, iOS, and Android devices where players can play custom games and queue together for all online matchmaking.

For more information on Brawlhalla, please visit: https://www.brawlhalla.com/

For the latest news on Brawlhalla and all of Ubisoft’s games, visit Ubisoft News: https://news.ubisoft.com.

About Blue Mammoth

Founded in 2009 and acquired by Ubisoft in 2018, Blue Mammoth Games is a development studio based in Atlanta, Georgia. The experienced team specializes in online multiplayer games with large player bases.

Blue Mammoth develops Brawlhalla, a Free-To-Play fighting game on Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows PC, PlayStation^® 4 system, iOS, and Android devices. Brawlhalla has over 50 million players and is currently the most played fighting game on Steam.

About Ubisoft
Ubisoft is a leading creator, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and services, with a rich portfolio of world-renowned brands, including Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, For Honor, Just Dance, Watch_Dogs, Tom Clancy’s video game series including Ghost Recon, Rainbow Six and The Division. The teams throughout Ubisoft’s worldwide network of studios and business offices are committed to delivering original and memorable gaming experiences across all popular platforms, including consoles, mobile phones, tablets and PCs. For the 2019-20 fiscal year, Ubisoft generated net bookings of €1,534 million. To learn more, please visit: www.ubisoftgroup.com.

About AMC

AMC is home to some of the most popular and acclaimed programs on television. AMC was the first basic cable network to ever win the Emmy^® Award for Outstanding Drama Series with Mad Men in 2008, which then went on to win the coveted award four years in a row, before Breaking Bad won it in 2013 and 2014. The network’s series The Walking Dead is the highest-rated series in cable history. AMC’s current original drama series are Better Call Saul, Dispatches from Elsewhere, Fear the Walking Dead, NOS4A2, Quiz, Soulmates, The Walking Dead, The Walking Dead: World Beyond, and the forthcoming series 61st Street, Kevin Can F Himself, Pantheon, and National Anthem. AMC also explores authentic worlds and discussion with original shows like Talking Dead, AMC Visionaries, and Ride with Norman Reedus. AMC is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc. and its sister networks include IFC, SundanceTV, BBC America, and WE tv. AMC is available across all platforms, including on-air, online, on demand, and mobile.

© 2020 Blue Mammoth Games. All Rights Reserved. Brawlhalla is a registered or unregistered trademark of Blue Mammoth Games in the US and/or other countries. Ubisoft and the Ubisoft logo are registered or unregistered trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the US and/or other countries. Blue Mammoth Games is a Ubisoft Entertainment company.

The Walking Dead © 2020 AMC Film Holdings LLC. All rights reserved.

PS5 Exclusive features detailed in NBA 2K21 Next Gen Gameplay Update

2K today revealed the second of three NBA 2K21 Next-Generation Gameplay Courtside Reports written by NBA 2K Gameplay Director, Mike Wang. The report focuses on the significant next-gen improvements coming to movement systems, a promising new “Impact Engine” to better simulate player contact and a new haptic feedback and adaptive trigger feature available to PlayStation 5 users.

NBA 2K21 is built from the ground up to fully utilize the power, speed and technology of next-gen consoles, and the next-gen version of the game is positioned to be an awesome leap forward and the largest game in franchise history.

Today, we’re going to dive into some of the tech that we were able to create to make NBA 2K21 on the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S truly feel like a next-generation experience. To view the full report click HERE

PS5 Trigger Effect

Something that always excites us as developers is the introduction of new hardware features that come along with new consoles. When we first heard about the PlayStation 5’s adaptive triggers and haptic feedback, we immediately began brainstorming ways to use them to enhance the gameplay experience. As soon as we got our hands on the dev kits, our lead engineer experimented with several different prototypes to figure out what made the most sense for a basketball game.

For the adaptive triggers, we opted to use them to convey energy/fatigue. As you move around the court, you’ll feel more and more resistance on the Sprint trigger as your player’s energy drains. We also use adaptive resistance in the post-game. Strong post players will feel very little resistance on L2 when backing down weaker opponents, but you’ll have to use more force to pull L2 when it’s the other way around. It’s very interesting to play with and helps immerse you into the experience of actually being on the basketball court!

As for haptic feedback, we used it to accentuate our various collision systems. Boxouts, body-up rides, off-ball collisions/deny/rides… basically any situation where players make significant contact will vibrate the controller at various intensities depending on the strength of the players involved and the severity of the impact. It’s so dope to feel the difference in your hands between a grazing bump and hard hit. It’s also a great reinforcement tool to understand when you’re making players work too hard on the court, which could hit their energy/stamina levels and potentially cause wear-and-tear on their bodies with our in-depth injury system.

Next-Gen Movement

There’s nothing more exciting for a developer than the arrival of new consoles. Every new generation gives us the opportunity to step back and reimagine how we can push the sports gaming genre forward. If I had to pick one aspect of gameplay that’s probably benefited the most from the jump to next-gen, the answer would probably have to be on-court locomotion. Movement is the foundation for a solid basketball game. When that foundation isn’t solid, a lot of aspects of the game fall apart. We put a lot of resources toward improving locomotion with and without the ball, and I’m excited how far it’s come to kick off year one of the next generation of 2K hoops.

·        

Dribble movement: The dribbler was rebuilt from the ground up for next-gen and the difference is night and day. We retained the concept of signature dribble styles that we introduced a couple years ago, but  otherwise, everything was scrapped and re-architected bringing a completely different feel with the ball in your hands for next-gen. Additionally, protect and post movement saw massive upgrades. The aspect of dribble movement that excites me the most is the predictability and consistency of it. It’s much easier to go exactly where you want on the floor, and in the manner that you’d expect to get there. No unwanted turns or having your player face the wrong way. No bursting up to speed or failed cuts. It just works. And because it’s built using the same engine as the Pro Stick dribble move system, movement and moves work cohesively together. Player speeds are more accurate to real life and the sense of weight feels more lifelike. It’s a complete package and I don’t think I can overstate how much it’s elevated my enjoyment of playing the game.

Defence and Off-Ball: All non-dribbling movement from on-ball defence, to off-ball offense and defence is run by our motion engine which is in its third year of development. The motion team has been working tirelessly to bring a next-gen feel to moving without the ball, and it both looks and feels fantastic. Here are some of the upgrades that stand out:

• Unique contextual motion assets for various basketball situations (Transition Stops, Leak Out, Guard Break, Anchor, Space Perimeter) bring an awareness to the look of the players on the floor and give them more life.
• Improved pathing, cuts, and stops make defenders feel more grounded and fix a lot of the sliding from the previous generation.
• Overall improvement to motion stability and response. In other words, we smoothed out the twitchiness and players can more accurately follow exactly what you’re doing on the sticks.
• Updated player-size detection logic and greater emphasis on player differentiation. Bigs move like bigs, and guards move like guards. This includes a lot of new animation content to support signature motion styles.
• Left stick taps allow you to play quick steps which are really helpful when you need to make subtle adjustments to your defensive position.

Foot Planting: Sliding in basketball is no good. But it’s something we’ve had to live with in the past because of limitations in technology. I’m happy to say that the next-gen version of NBA 2K21 takes a huge leap in that department. Our engineers re-wrote our foot planting tech from scratch and it led to one of the most striking visual improvements when you compare next-gen to previous generations. Players can now take procedural steps instead of sliding their feet when they need to make micro-adjustments. I love seeing proper footwork as players are making hard cuts, accelerating, stopping… even just standing and making subtle movements in place. It just brings 2K hoops one more step (see what I did there?) closer to real life.

Body Ups: That’s our internal name for all of the interactions between the ball handler and defender. It’s always a tricky balance trying to accurately model the cat & mouse game between the offense and the defence. Our goal with body ups was to highlight the improvements that we were able to make to both dribbling and defensive movement. To that end, it meant less canned interactions and doing a better job of respecting user control. I think the next-gen version of NBA 2K21 strikes a great balance between rewarding taking proper driving angles and respecting contact. Attempting to drive head first directly into a defender will stop them in their tracks, lead to charges, or force pickups. When ball handlers get to the hip of the defender but the defender matches well, it will lead to more realistic rides that neither player will feel stuck in. And on the other extreme, slow footed (or slow to react) defenders will be punished with blow by’s and if they try to force the contact too late, might get hit with a blocking foul. Strong ball handlers can also hard stop out of a ride and crab defenders more effectively so it’s not always about speed when trying to probe into the paint. The logic for the types of resolutions that play out is much more robust and takes into account every little detail you can think of. The end result is a better 1-on-1 game that more accurately mirrors the real NBA.

Off-Ball Contact: Just like with body ups, we wanted to translate those same principles off-ball. The motion team completely re-worked the off-ball contact system, which now features everything from “let throughs” (incidental contact) to hard collisions. There’s a great freedom of movement when you’re working away from the ball but also realistic contact when it’s called for, all with no snatching or sliding. My favourite aspect of these collisions can be seen in the new screen interactions. Gone are the “vacuum screens” that have plagued basketball games in the past where defenders would get pulled into a screen collision and run in a direction they weren’t asking for. You can reject screens appropriately, go over or under as you’d expect, and “die” on a screen if you have a weak defender trying to barrel through a big. It all looks great, but more importantly, feels great for both the offense and defence to get the outcomes that make sense in such an important aspect of team basketball.

Impact Engine

One of the biggest challenges we face when balancing offense and defence is contact in the paint. As you can tell, with next-gen we really stress the importance of respecting user control and not warping defenders into place for the sake of game balance. But it’s vital to be able to have reliable contact, especially for protecting the basket, in order to prevent bloated points in the paint. For NBA 2K21 next-gen, we developed a new in-air contact shot system that we internally call the Impact Engine. The goal was to completely remove the snatching that we’d been using in past games and resolve collisions on the fly as players hit each other in mid-air. The Impact Engine and next-gen console power gives us the flexibility to do just that. By creating reliable contact when players are in flight, we no longer have to take control of defenders while they’re on the ground and pull them into place just to force certain outcomes. This will be most noticeable for paint defenders as they’ll have the freedom to manoeuvre their players into position and make a play on the ball themselves rather than the game dictating what happens based on whatever animations happen to trigger. To further aid paint defence, the logic that goes into block targeting was improved and we’re using IK more heavily now to get the hand to track the ball (as well as to minimize clipping.) One of the main beneficiaries of the new engine is that we now have contact alley-oop and putback dunk-ons for the first time in 2K, which look sick and feel rewarding when you can pull them off!

On-ground contact also saw major upgrades, specifically with charge and block fouls. Beating the shooter to the spot and getting set will yield a lot more successful charge calls on the offense while being late will give you more blocking fouls. We’ve also added “crash” layups for the situations where the shooter barrels into the defence but a charge or block aren’t warranted. These animations will help convey to the player that they’re forcing the issue and hopefully teach them to respect paint defenders next time they go inside. If you can’t get around the defence, sometimes it’s better to shoot a floater or pull-up jumper.

Monster Prom 2: Monster Camp Coming October 23 to Steam

Beautiful Glitch’s thirsty multiplayer dating sim sequel arrives just in time for Halloween!

BARCELONA, Spain — Oct. 14, 2020 — Indie developer Beautiful Glitch revealed today that Monster Prom 2: Monster Camp, the sequel to the original cult hit multiplayer dating sim Monster Prom, will launch on Oct. 23, 2020, for PC, Mac and Linux via Steam. Win the love and affection of a diverse cast of new and familiar monstrous heartthrobs at a brand-new summertime haunt bursting with colorful art, irreverent humor and young monster hormones.

Monster Camp is a maturely immature dating sim you can play solo or competitively with up to four players in online and local multiplayer, as well as Steam Remote Play Together. Choose where to spend your time around the camp by day, meeting new characters, taking part in wholesome camp activities, settling childish arguments and rivalries, and more. When the day is done, gather around the new campfire system, where everyone comes together to decide who to sit with and who to gossip about!

Your summer fling is up to you: choose your pronouns and pursue whoever you want (including the series’ first non-binary romance option, the breathtaking reaper Milo Belladonna) regardless of your identity. Seriously: these monsters are a treat and ready to shippppp.

Each run is quick, making it easy to explore new characters, choices and consequences, as well as silly secrets and easter eggs. With 50+ characters, 350+ events, 20+ endings and tons of surprises to discover based on your choices, Monster Camp is a fun and positive romantic romp you’ll remember fondly when it’s time to go back to school.

Monster Prom 2: Monster Camp is available to wishlist now on Steam. For more info, follow @MonsterProm on Twitter.

About Beautiful Glitch

We’re an indie studio based in sunny Barcelona (with collaborators around the globe). Our focus is on narrative-driven games, trying to create characters that make people fall in love. We do our best while embracing the Mediterranean style of always keeping in mind we don’t live to work, but work to live.

– Bill Nighy joins SPACE FORCE as narrator
– Kosmokrats reveals game launch date of 5^th November 2020 with exciting new trailer

London, 14 October 2020 – Comrades! Publisher Modern Wolf and developer Pixel Delusion are excited to reveal that esteemed Hollywood actor Bill Nighy has joined the ranks of SPACE FORCE as the narrator for upcoming title Kosmokrats, which will be released on 5^th November 2020 on PC. This capital news is showcased in a new game trailer below.

Sign up to SPACE FORCE today by wish-listing Kosmokrats on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1204410/Kosmokrats/
 
Kosmokrats follows the story of a humble potato peeler whose duties are suddenly upgraded to ‘comrade drone pilot’ to begin assembling and building space stations in a series of construction solving missions. Be careful not to crush too many cosmonauts or to destroy the all-important potato resources, or Drone Pilot Supervisor Boris will never finish his paperwork… 

Game features:

• Build a mighty fleet: Use the most cutting edge drone technology of the 1960s to master the puzzle-like process of assembling spaceships in orbit: simply push and pull the spaceship parts together in zero gravity. Just make sure you’re lining up the right connectors, comrade. And don’t take too long. Or squish too many brave cosmonauts.
• Live a heroic narrative: The story of the people’s colonization of the solar system and beyond is full of interesting characters and even more interesting decisions! No two play-throughs will be the same, and every action you take — from accidentally killing cosmonauts in “workplace incidents” to failing to correctly assemble spaceships — will have repercussions that you and the fleet will feel sooner or later.
• Become a citizen of the stars: In Kosmokrats you will earn medals to display in your awards cabinet, read the very accurate Official Party newspaper, entertain yourself between missions with your state-of-the-art Я-Box games console, adjust the game’s difficulty level with the help of vodka, and more.

Kosmokrats will be released on Steam for PC on 5^th November 2020.

Modern Wolf
Modern Wolf is a progressive publisher of video games, founded in 2019 by Fernando Rizo and Andreas Gschwari. Based in London, Modern Wolf works with game developers around the globe to bring you the weirdest and smartest indie games in the world.
 
Follow Modern Wolf on Twitter at @ModernWolfLtd
http://www.modernwolf.net

About Pixel Delusion
Pixel Delusion is a small independent studio based in Olsztyn, Poland. Established in 2016 and at first doing work for hire, we’re now busy working away on our first title. We aim to create highly systemic games that marries generated content with dynamic storytelling.
Don’t be shy:

1-4 Player Memory Early Access Game Launching for $11.99 on Windows and Mac

October 14th, 2020 — Miju Gamesannounce its 1-4 player potion-brewing memory game Abracadabrew is now available on Steam for $11.99.

Abracadabrew is a fun and chaotic, memory based, local couch co-op game for 1 to 4 players. Cooperate with your friends while using your memory skills to brew as many potions as you can before dawn. Gather ingredients hidden across the place, communicate and stay focused to unlock new brain-racking potions combinations!

Features

• Fun, intense and chaotic potion brewing — start with simple recipes and over time challenge your memory skills to master more complex concoctions!
• Play single-player or together with up to 4-player local couch co-op multiplayer — or try online multiplayer with Steam Remote Play or Parsec!
• Battle spooky/scary monsters and unlock 20 different characters across dozens of randomly generated levels — each session different from the last!
• Leaderboards support!
• Magic, potions, witches, bat wings and spider webs! Family friendly, but still challenging.

Abracadabrew is available on Windows and Mac platforms.

To find out more, visit: https://www.mijugames.com/
Twitter:@MijuGames

About Miju Games
Miju Games is a two-person studio based out of France. Amelie works on the art, Brice codes; and the two come together to craft cool indie games.

Whoever said that taking care of kids is an easy task clearly never had to deal with a bunch of 5-year-olds. There’s no better management school, really. A group of young kids will teach you how to multitask – have you ever tried to finish your coffee, heck, even finish making it, while at the same time dealing with the simultaneous “I have to pee/I’m hungry/he took my toy!” dramas, multiplied by ten? Daycare will teach you patience – “Why do people sleep?” Because they need rest. “Why?” Because they get tired. “Why?” Because they work. “Why?” It will teach you creativity – try to entertain a kid for longer than five minutes – and a whole lot of other skills no other work experience could ever provide.

If you still think you’ve got what it takes to meet the challenge, add the game to your Steam Wishlist (https://store.steampowered.com/app/1416480/Daycare_Manager).

ABOUT DAYCARE MANAGER

Daycare Manager is an innovative mix of management and simulation gameplay that will throw at you the unusual challenge of handling a nursery school. You are responsible for taking care of all your children’s needs, from arranging their playtime to feeding, nap time, schooling, and returning them safely to their parents’ arms. And yet, that is only a small percentage of your responsibilities, as you’ll have to think about expanding your business, promotion, and hiring new employees. This means building new facilities, arranging the playground, interior design, advertising, recruiting, and much more. In the end, you want your daycare to be the best out there!

DAYCARE MANAGER – MAIN FEATURES

• Get ready to handle the daily challenge of taking care of a bunch of kids. Children are fun, silly, smart, full of energy, and truly, incredibly demanding. Take care of them while facing unexpected challenges.
• Use your time wisely to make sure the kids play AND learn. Kids love to play. That’s natural. If they could, they would play all day long. That’s why it’s your job to ensure a healthy balance between playtime and other needs such as sleeping, eating, and learning. Be sure to make a smart schedule for each day that distributes time between diverse activities to keep your children and their parents happy.
• Enjoy exciting mini-games. Dance, cook, and teach – all in the form of fun mini-games!
• Remember to promote your daycare to attract new families. Spread the word and advertise your exceptional skills to reach new parents and convince them to enroll their kids at your place. More children mean more activities and more challenges, but also more profit.
• Hire additional caretakers to help out. The bigger your business grows, the more people you’ll need. Recruit caretakers and other specialists to help you run the place, and make sure there’s no challenge you can’t handle.
• Be creative – expand your daycare and decorate it. Build new rooms and facilities, buy more beds, and add new toys. Arrange various activities, improve the services your daycare provides, and, last but not least, make it look appealing to all the moms that want their kids to stay in beautifully-decorated interiors.
• Become the best caretaker in the country! Keep working, and parents will line up to make sure their kids attend the only daycare worth attending – your daycare.

Daycare Manager is being developed by Tag of Joy and will be published by Games Operators on PC.

More information about the game can be found on Steam.

About Games Operators
Games Operators is a publishing company that invests in, releases, and promotes video games. The company helps to develop innovative and unique video games like 911 Operator, Radio Commander, 112 Operator, BE-A Walker, and Transport INC. by getting involved in projects at various levels of progress – from the conceptual phase to nearly-finished products. http://www.gameops.pl/